Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Misma' Kirdin said: I was in the service of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him); his son Isma'il was also present, and at that time we regarded him as the Imam after his father. In the course of a long account he said: I heard from a man that Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) had said something contrary to our supposition regarding the Imamate of Isma'il. I went to two men from the people of Kufa who regarded Isma'il as the Imam and told them what had happened. One of them said: 'I have heard, I am obedient to my Imam (peace be upon him), and I am content with this matter.' The other tore open his collar and said: 'No, by Allah, I will not hear, nor obey, nor be content, until I hear it from the Imam (peace be upon him) himself.' He set off towards the house of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him); I followed him. When we reached the door, we asked permission. He gave me permission and I entered before him. Then he gave him permission and he entered. When he entered, he said: 'So-and-so, do you wish that a private letter be sent to each of you [confirming] that what so-and-so said is correct?'